News

February 11, 2021

Statement from Randall Smallbone, Chair of Burlington Economic Recovery Network, regarding fairness for local business during COVID-19

On December 10, the Burlington Economic Recovery Network (BERN), Team Burlington and the City of Burlington advocated at a special meeting of Council to call on the Province for business equity and capacity caps in retail stores to be based on store occupancy rather than hard caps and closures. With Premier Ford’s announcement on February 8th, we learned that the Province has listened. 

When Burlington businesses return to the colour coded reopening Framework on February 16, our retail businesses will be able to stay open in all tiers including grey/lockdown, and occupancy will be based on a store’s capacity limits. 

As we anticipate rapid adjustments to zones and rules for businesses based on the response to new variants, this change in policy will be critical in helping our retail businesses continue to generate revenues and survive through COVID-19 restrictions.

On behalf of BERN and Team Burlington, we are appreciative of the support from City Council, and to the Province for listening to the needs of businesses and recognizing that safety measures cannot be applied as a “one-size-fits-all” solution. These changes will undoubtedly make a significant difference for our small businesses by allowing them to keep their doors open and remain competitive in today’s challenging market.